BlackBerry just announced its second-ever Android smartphone and its an Alcatel clone

BlackBerry has just revealed its first smartphone to follow the Priv, the awfully named DTEK50.

In something of a surprise move (the phone has been leaked for a while now), the device appears to be built by Alcatel, given it’ s virtually identical to that company’s Idol 4S. The specs certainly are identical:

I happen to be reviewing that exact phone at the moment, and it’s a solid device, but I can’t help but feel a little disappointed BlackBerry didn’t choose to create something original after they took a step in the right direction with the Priv. Also, there’s definitely no physical keyboard on this one.

Then again, this is meant to be a budget device. The DTEK50 will retail for $299.

BlackBerry is trying to differentiate itself from Alcatel – and other smartphones – by calling the DTEK50 “the world’s most secure Android smartphone.” That means including a password manager, drive encryption and more.

The phone is named after its DTEK software, which monitors when your system could be at risk. It will also alert you when applications take photos or videos without your knowledge, turn on your microphone, send a text, etc.

It’s hard to say whether people really care enough about their privacy to make them choose a BlackBerry over other devices, but at $299, we can’t complain much. The phone is available to pre-order now, and will begin shipping the week of August 8.